Work-support.



J. R. JOHNSON.

WORK SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.28. 1915.

1,254,204. Patented Jan.22,1918.

rentrant ernten.

JOHN' R. JOHNSON, OFBOCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE INGERSOLLMILLING' MACHINE COMPANY, 0F BOCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

wenn-surnoms.

To Aall whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN R. JOHNsON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county ot Winnebago and State of illinois,have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Work-Supports, ofwhich the following is a specification.

ln milling and other machines in which the work to be operated upon issupported or carried by a bed or frame, it is essential to accurateworking of the machine that the work be held irmly and rigidly duringthe operation thereon. Since the under surface of each piece of workusually presents a more or less irregular surface and since thedifferent pieces of work yary in their irregularities it is feasible tohave only three xed points of support for the work upon which it mayrest. lt is obvious that with a threepoint support each point willalways contact with the work, but if a greater number is employed someof them will fail to con- I tact with the work unless the lower surfacethereof is absolutely Hat. Three points of support, however, areinsufiicient to maintain the work in the required position and supportit steadily and firmly for the reason that the pressure of the operatingtool will tend to rock the work on these supports.

lt is therefore necessary to employ additional supports which, after thework is positioned upon the three fixed supports, can be adjusted intoContact with the lower surface or the work at various points and lockedin this adjusted position so as to form auxiliary supporting means whichwill preclude oscillation or vibration o l` the work under the operationot the tool. Frior to my present invention these auxiliary supports havebeen independently constructed and arranged so that each one had to beindividually adjusted independently of the others. The time required toadjust and lock each ort these auxiliary supports individually,particularly on `a large bed where a considerable 4number of supportsare necessary, materially reduced the productiveness oi the machine andthe ei'iiciency of the operator.

rlhe primary object of my present invention is to provide a plurality ofwork supports which will automatically adjust themselves toirregularities in the surface of the work so as to be always in firmsupporting contact therewith, and, to provide means Specification ofLetters Patent.

` whereby whole series of these supports mav be simultaneously locked inadjusted operat1ve position by one simple operation. By the use of thisinvention the time requlred to position and firmly support the work uponthe bed is very materially reduced.

Another object of my invention is the provision of work-supporting meanswhich can be economically produced and which will be positive, accurateand edective in operation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of my invention willbe readily appreciated as the same' is better understood by reference tothe following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings,

Referring to the drawings- Figure i is a plan view or a machine bedequipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 oi Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the work supportingdevices shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4i is a sinilar view taken on the line 4 4. 0f 5 Fig. 5 is aperspective view of one of the plunger blocks;

Figui is a perspective view of one of the n plunger base plugs; and Fig.l is a View oie a plunger formed with a rounded instead o a charnferedhead.

@n the drawings reference character ydesignates generally thework-supporting bed which obviously may be ot any lrecuiired shape anddimensions, and which is equipped with three fixed work-supportingbosses 8, il and 1i which form the three permanent points oi support forthe work which is to be operated upon. in Fig. 2 a conventional slab 12is shown as representing the work, which is customarily locked inposition on the bed by means of clamps i3 or other preferred fasteningmeans disposed adjacent to the fixed points of support 8, 9 and il.

After the work has been placed in position upon the fixed supportingbosses it is essential, as previously explained, that it he additionallysupported at various points to obviate tilting and vibration durinr theoperation o the machine. Irl`he auxiliary supports which must, ofcourse, be adjustable to accommodate them to irregularities in thesurface to he supported may be arranged in .o Patented aan. sa, aars.Applicatiolled September 28, 1.915. Serial No. 52,993.

lill@ any desired position on the bed, but in the present instance Ihave shown, for purposes of illustration merely, two rows of auxiliarysupports disposed longitudinally of the bed adjacent to each sidethereof. Each row comprises' a series of spring-pressed plungers 14projecting upwardly from the bed, the detailed construction of theplungers and the manner of mounting and operating the same being moreclearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bed is provided at the points wherethe auxiliary supports are desired with vertically disposed holes 15extending therethrough, the holes of each series being connected by ahorizontally extending bore 16. These holes and bores may be formed inthe bed in any suitable manner either by boring after the bed is formedor by being cast therein when the bed is made, the latter method being`preferable from the standpoint of economy in manufacture.

The bottom of each hole 15 is closed by a base plug 17 shaped to iit thehole and held in position by suitable means, such for example, as a setscrew 18 threaded through the bed and extended into the vertical groove19 formed on the periphery of the plug. The plug is provided with atransversely extending groove or channel 21 which, when the plug ispositioned in the hole, is disposed in alinement with the bore 16. Ablock 22 proportioned to loosely and slidingly fit the channel 21 has'its faces which are presented transversely to the bore 16v sli htlytapered downwardly as indicated y reference characters 23 and 24. Thisblock is hollowed out to receive a coiled expansion spring 25 by whichthe block is normally and yieldingly supported, and the height to whichthe block will normally be raised by the spring may be revulated bymeans of a set screw 26 threaded through the bottom of the plug 17 andupon which the lower end of spring 25 is supported. The plunger 14 restsupon the upper end of the block 22 and is guided in its verticalmovements by a sleeve 27 fitted into the top of the hole 15 and securedin position by a set screw 28. It will be observed from the drawingsthat the upper ends of certain of the plungers are chamfered olf in themanner clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and it will be noted, viewingFig. 1, that only the plungers disposed in the parallel rows arechamfered. These plungers are arranged so that their chamfered portionsface inwardly and are adapted to receive the sides of the work or slab12 as shown particularly in Fig. 4.v Thus thevplungers not only providesupports or rests for the slab suitable to accommodate slightirregularities therein, but they also so engage the slab as to hold itagainst lateral displacement with respect to the bed 7. While I plungerthereby insuring that the plunger t will maintain its positionrelatively to the work resting thereon. Were some means for preventingrotation of the plunger not provided the plunger might rotate slightlybeneath a high spot to a position beneath a low spot where it would notcontact with the work and, consequently, its supporting function wouldbe vitiated.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be observed thatthere is positioned in the bore 16 a plurality of bars 33 disposedbetween the various blocks 22, the ends of the bars being cut at aslight angle as best shown in Fig'. 3 so as to abut against and conformto the inclined faces 23 and 24 of the blocks 22. The bars 33, which maybe square or round or any-shape which corresponds with the shape of thebore 16, fit loosely within the bore so as to slide longitudinallythereof. For the purpose of maintaining the bars in proper position andto obviate any rotative movement thereof the ends of each bar areequipped with laterally projecting ribs or splines 34 which slidingly twithin correspondingly shaped guidegrooves 35 formed in the side wallsof the channel 21 of the'base plugs 17. The bars 33 when the parts areassembled are therefore maintained in alinement and in pro er positionin the bore. It will be obvious t iat the bars 33 and the blocks 22are-capable of limited movement longitudinally of the bore withoutwithdrawing the blocks from beneath their respective plungers 14 whichare prevented from partaking of this movement longitudinally of the bedby reason of their mounting in the fixed sleeves 27. When the parts areassembled as `shown in Fig. 2, and the work is placed upon the xedsupporting bosses the plungers 14 will be depressed more or less as thework is placed upon them, the springs 25, however, serving to urge theplungers into contact with the overlying work. If pressure is nowapplied at the ends of the bores to the bars 33 the bars will be forcedlongitudinally against the inclined faces of the blocks 22, therebyfirmly clamping the blocks and locking them against downward movementwith the result that the plungers are securely locked in operativeposition with their upper ends in supporting contact with neeao y la'the work. It will be here notedv that the plungers are vmoved intocontact with the work. only through the pressure of the springs 25through the intermediary of the blocks 22, and that after the blockshave been operatively positioned by the springs,

said blocks will be rigidly clamped by the.

bars 33 and thereby locked against retracting movement, the inclinationof the block ends being not suiiicient to cause the blocks to be raisedbut are inclined enough to prevent said retractin movement.

Various means or applying pressure to the ends of the bars may beemployed and in Fig. 2 l have shown set screws 34C and 35 as threadedinto the tapped ends of the bore 16. By screwing either or both of theseset screws into the bore against the ends of the bars 33 the bars willbe' compressed longitudinally against the blocks 22, thereby lockingthem and the plunger supported thereby in the desired position. Uponloosening either of the screws 34 or 35 the blocks 22 and the plungerscarried thereby will be released so as to be capable of verticalmovement under the action of the springs 25. Normally the plungers willbe projected upwardly by the spring 25 a greaterdistance than that shown-in the drawings, and when the work is positioned thereon the plungerswill be depressed a limited amount, depending upon the lower surface ofthe work, but will be maintained in yielding Contact with the work bythe springs. rlhe screw 34 or the screw 35, depending upon which is mostaccessible to the operator, is then tightened up to clamp the blocks andfirmly lock the plungers in contact with the work so that they willsteady and hold the work irmly in position during the operation thereon.

in the upper portion. of Fig. l l' have shown one of the plungers ifi asodset from a straight line with the remainder of the series for thepurpose of showing how my invention may be utilized when it isnotdesirable to place the plungers in straight line. in this instance thehead of the plunger is rounded as shown in Fig. 7, so as to easily adaptitself to the face of the slab or work. lt will be apparent that whenthe work is such that varies in width it is preferable to employplungers having rounded heads, since these are better suited for generalwork; but where a work supporting device is designed for a particularpiece of work, viz., one stimulating a rectangular form as illustratedin the drawing, the chamt'ered form of plungers are more' desirable,since they have the additional function of retaining the worl; againstlateral displacement.

ln this instance above mentioned, of the use of plungers odset from astraight line, the bore 16 has an elbow or a corner 36 and in order totransmit pressure around this corner ll have placed at this point asteel ball 3'? whichis interposed between the ends of the adjacent bars33 so that when one of the bars is moved longitudinally the other willbe correspondingly moved thereby through the instrumentality of theball. In this instance the ends of the bore are shown as being closed byscrew plugs 38 but instead of applying pressure to the bars 33 at theends of the bore for the purpose of clamping the plungers l have .showna .wedge 41 positioned lin an opening in the bed so as to projectbetween the spaced ends bf two of the bars 33. A set screw 42 threadedinto the opening is employed to force :the wedge inwardly between thebars 33, thereby separating the bars and effecting the desiredcompression and clamping ot the plungers.

This method of actuating the bars is desirable in many instances wherethe set screws in the ends of the bores would be in an unhandy orinaccessible position. The clamping action, however, is the same in bothinstances and it will be manifest that all of the plungers in a seriesare simultaneously locked in operative position by one simple operation.1

lt is believed that my invention, and its mode and principle ofoperation should be clearly understood from the foregoing and it shouldbe further understood that l'do not limit myself to the details ofconstruction shown and described except as defined by the appendedclaims, since these may be variously changed and modified withoutdepartingtrom the spirit and scope ci the invention orsacriicing any ofits material advantages.

l' claim:

i. ln a work support, the combination o' a plurality of independentlymovable supporting devices arranged to contact the work at spaced.points, means for yieldingly urging said devices into contact with thework, and'means whereby said-devices may be locked in operative positionby a single operation.

2. ln a work support, the combination ot a plurality of plungersarranged to engage the work at spaced points, means for yieldinglyurging the plungers into engagement with the work, and means lmovabletransversely or the axes of the plungers for loching them in operativeposition,

3. ln a work support, the combination o a plurality ot' longitudinallymovable plungers, spring supported blocks upon which the plungers restand through the agency of which the plungers are yieldingly urged intocontact with the work, clamping means in coperative relation to saidblocks, and means to cause said clamping means to simultaneously clampall of said blocks in operative position.

lili

4. In a work support, the combination of I a plurality of independentlymovable spring supported blocks tapered downward y at opposite sides,plungers disposed upon sald blocks, which together with the plungers arearranged so that the latter will contact the work at spaced points,clamping bars having inclined ends abutting against and conforn'iing tothe tapered faces of said blocks, and means for moving said bars tosimultaneously clamp all of the blocks and thereby prevent retractingmovement of the pluners. g 5. In a work support, the combination of abed provided with a hole, a base plu mounted in the lower lind of saidhole an rojectin upwardly t erein, a spring suported by; said plug, ablock carried by the spring, a plunger resting on the block, and meansfor varying the tension of said spring.

6. In a work support, the combination of a bed provided with an openingtherethrough, a base plug mounted in the lower end of said opening andhaving a transversely disposed channel in its upper end, a tapered blockdisposed in said channel, a plunger resting on the block, a spring vforyieldingly urging said plunger mto engagement with the work, and aplurality of clamping bars projecting into said channel into engagementwith the inclined faces of said block whereby the block and plunger arelocked in operative position.

7. Ina work support, the combination of a bed provided with a horizontalbore intersected by a plurality of vertically disposed holes, a baseplug mounted in the lower end of each of said holes and having a channeldisposed in alinement with said bore, a tapered spring-pressed blockdisposed in each o f said channels, a plunger resting on said blocks,clamping bars arranged in the bore and extending into said channels intoengagement with the inclined faces of said `blocks, and a single meansfor actuating said bars to clamp the blocks between them.

8. In a work support, the combination of a bed rovided with a bore and ahole intersectmg the same, a base plug mounted in the lower end of saidhole and having a channed disposed in alinement with sai bore, a taperedblock positioned in said channel, and clamping bars extending into thechannel into engagement with the inclined faces of said block, the sidewalls of said channel and the bars having a tongue and groove connectionto maintain the bars in position. v

9. In a work support of the character described, the combination of abed having three fixed triangularly spaced points of support upon which.a piece of work is adapted to rest, means for clamping the work xedlyto said supports, a plurality a bed, a plurality of independentAsupporting members mounted on the bed and yieldingly engageable withthe work at various points intermediate said fixed supports, and meansoperable in a single operation to secure said supporting members inoperative position.

10. In a work support of the character described, the combination ofthree fixed triangularly spaced points of support, means for rigidlyclamping a piece of work to said supports, and a series of supportingmembers yieldingly engageable with the work at spaced pointsintermediate said ixed supports and independently movable relatively toeach other in accordance with variations inthe surface of the work, andmeans for securing said supporting members in operative position.

11. In a work support, the combination of of iixed spaced supports andmeans for rigidly clamping a piece of work thereto, a series of plungersslidably mounted on the bed and arranged to be brought into engagementwith the work at spaced points intermediate said fixed supports, meansfor yieldingly urging each plunger into engagement with the work wherebyeach plunger will be automatically moved and held into engagement withthe surface of the work regardless of variations therein, and additionalmeans for securing said series of plungers in locked supportingengagement with the work.

12. In a'work support, the combination of a plurality of supportingmembers arranged tov engage the work at spaced points, and means to lockthe supporting members in operative supporting relation to the worksupports, including means for yieldingly urging each supporting memberinto operative position so that each will automatically accommodateitself to variations in the surface of the work engaged. v

13. In a work support,rthe combination of a. bed ha'ving threetriangularly spaced rigid supporting points, means for tixedly clampinga piece of work thereto, a plurality of plungers slidably mounted on thebed and arranged to engage and support the work at points intermediatesaid fixed supporting points, means yieldingly urging eac plunger in adirection to engage said work so that the plungers will be independentlyand relatively movable into engagement with the work regardless ofvariations in the surface thereof, and means for securing the plungersin rigid supporting engagement with the work. e

14. In a work support, the combination of 4a bed having spaced fixedsupports, means for rigidly clamping a piece of work thereto, aplurality of plungers slidably mounted on the bed intermediate saidfixed supports and provided with chamfered heads, said plungers beingarranged so that their chamfered faces engage lower side edges of the beengageable with the Work at spaced 10 Work so as to both support theWork and points, means yieldingly urging each memhold it against lateraldisplacement2 means ber into engagement with the work, and foryieldingly urging each plunger into enmeans coperable with the firstnamed 5 gagement with the Work, and means for means to lock the same inoperative position simultaneously locking the plungers in supso as toprevent retracting `of said members 15 porting engagement with the Work.from operative engagement with the work.

15. In a work support, the combination of l a plurality of members so'arranged as to JOHN R. JOHNSON.

